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Weight loss – a new/old option

We all know the facts: Over two thirds of Americans are overweight. Half of them (one third of Americans) are medically obese, which places them at high risk for the development of premature heart attacks and a variety of other serious medical conditions.

The main cause of obesity is overeating, even more so than lack of physical activity.

The most effective way to lose weight is portion control, and with it comes the control of caloric intake.

But portion and calorie intake control is a tough job. It’s a “full time job,” and it takes willpower and discipline.

So what do you do when the brute force approach doesn’t work for you?

The New York Times Business section of February 16^th had an interesting article on the possible approval by the FDA of a new appetite suppressant, Qnexa (U.S. to Review Diet Treatment Once Rejected).

The use of appetite suppressants for the treatment of obesity has a long history. Medications like phentermine, Tenuate and Xenical have been used for years (we all remember the fen-phen period, of which phentermine emerged as the surviving drug…).

More recently, metformin (used in diabetes) has been used in some cases, and a combination of phentermine and certain antidepressants has been shown to be more effective than phentermine alone.

What’s new about Qnexa is not really new. The proposed drug is a combination of two well known medications now widely used: phentermine, the familiar appetite suppressant, and topiramate (Topamax) which is most commonly used for migraine prophylaxis.

Topamax, like most other drugs has a long list of side effects, one of which is weight loss. So physicians who treat obesity, have now begun using Topamax “off label” for it’s weight loss side effect, in combination with phentermine. The combination appears to be very effective.

The use of a medication for its side effects is not new. A good example is the wide use by hospitals of the Benadryl as a sleep medicine. In reality Benadryl (or its equivalents) is an antihistamine used for the treatment of allergies, and sleepiness as its most common side effect.

Whether Qnexa is actually approved by the FDA for weight loss or not, physicians are already using its components,  the combination of phentermine and topiramate, to help patients lose weight when attempts at self control and lifestyle changes are not successful.  

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Low Glycemic Index foods

Low Glycemic Index (GI) may help you control your appetite. The table below, published by Bekeley Heart Lab, Inc., shows the GI of some common foods. Look at it carefully, and I'm sure you'll find some unexpected results. Always try to choose the foods with the lowest GI. For example, when looking for a fruit snack, choose cherries or grapefruit over watermelon or dates.
As a reference, the GI of table sugar (and corn syrup) is approximately 90.
Berkeley Heart Lab is known for its in-depth analysis of blood cholesterol profile and the resulting cardiac implications. We use their services when appropriate.
To enlarge the GI chart, just click on the image. You can also click and drag it to your desk top.

Eat low Glycemic Index foods

The Glycemic Index (GI) of a food  is a measure of how much blood sugar level rises after eating a given amount of that food. The lower the GI of a given food, the lower will be the rise in your blood sugar. Your pancreas will not be called upon to release insulin as fast, and several benefits accrue: better control of blood sugar levels, a decrease in appetite, better weight control, and a lower risk of developing full fledged diabetes.

As a reference point, the Glycemic Index of table sugar is 64 (not very good), and for some foods it can exceed a real-bad 130 (dates, French baguette and, yes, non-dairy tofu frozen desert).

Here are some examples of the good, the mediocre, and the bad (note: this is only a guideline; for the actual values of many foods, click here): 

Low Glycemic Index foods, 55 or less, good: Milk (skim or fat), plain yogurt, legumes (lentils, kidney beans, chick peas), soy beverages, certain fruits (apples, plums, grapefruit, oranges, berries), oat bran bread, pumpernickel bread, slow cooked oats (oatmeal),  whole grain pasta (al dente is better, believe it or not…).

Medium Glycemic index foods, 55-69, mediocre: Banana, pineapple, raisins, new potatoes, split pea or green pea soup, brown rice, All-Bran™, shredded wheat cereal, whole wheat bread, rye bread.

High Glycemic index foods, 70 or more, not so good): White bread or bagel, white potatoes, parsnips, rutabaga, instant rice, certain cereals (Cheerios™, Corn Flakes™, Rice Krispies), french fries, ice cream, table sugar, jelly beans, watermelon, naturally sweetened sodas.

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